G&T Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 By GEORGE GEDDA WASHINGTON - Setting aside political differences, the United States offered Iran temporary shelter to house up to 100,000 earthquake victims, the State Department said Friday. ADVERTISEMENT The offer came after President Bush said in Cancun, Mexico, that the administration was willing to send assistance despite the differences with Iran's Islamic government on its nuclear program and other issues. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns telephoned Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said. In addition to shelter, the offer includes blankets, plastic sheeting, hygienic goods and water units, Ereli said. As part of the package, $150,000 in cash assistance would be sent, to be distributed through private voluntary groups, Ereli said. Burns told the ambassador the assistance could be delivered within 48 hours. The envoy promised a reply after conferring with his government. The U.S. military provided aid after a devastating quake in southern Iran in 2003. U.S. help was offered after another earthquake in Iran in 2005 but it was not accepted. Bush said in Mexico, "We obviously have our differences with the Iranian government, but we do care about the suffering of Iranian people." Three strong earthquakes and several aftershocks struck Thursday and Friday near two industrial centers about 210 miles southwest of Tehran. Officials said at least 66 people were killed and 1,200 others were injured. Bush emphasized opposition to Iran's nuclear program and said the world was united with Washington. "There is common agreement that the Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon, the capacity to make a nuclear weapon or the knowledge to make a nuclear weapon," the president said. "And the reason there's common agreement is because the Iranian government with such a weapon, as it's now constituted, would pose a serious threat to world security," Bush added. He declined to say whether the United States would seek sanctions against Iran. Bush did note that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Europe trying to build a consensus with allies on the next steps. From Yahoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCSox Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 So, is "Jihad Monkey" going to refuse it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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